BES Drongos
The BES (Bachelor of Environmental Studies) Drongos is a nature guiding group that holds guided walks on Petai Trail at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. The students hope that through direct interaction with nature, participants can learn about local biodiversity, get exposed to conservation issues and understand their role in the conservation scene.
The group was founded in 2014 by the pioneer batch of BES students, primarily to support the Love our MacRitchie Forest (LOMF) movement. The LOMF aims to protect MacRitchie by raising awareness about the Cross Island Line Construction through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Aside from guided nature walks on Petai Trail, the BES Drongos have also been setting up conservation booths within NUS, displaying animal specimens from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) to reach out and educate other NUS students about local biodiversity which they never noticed.
In the process of raising awareness, the BES Drongos has allowed its members to equip themselves with essential communication skills to engage the public in conservation issues. It has become a platform where students can contribute to local conservation efforts through educating the public, where students act as bridges between the institution and the public.
To contact the BES Drongos, you can reach them via their facebook page here.
NUS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (SAA)
The annual Student Achievement Awards (SAA) 2016 ceremony was held on 29 January at the University Cultural Centre. The SAA recognises exceptional students or student groups who have made noteworthy contributions to the university outside of their studies. Various Science students and student groups clinched awards for new initiatives, leadership, competitions and achievements in community service.
Our BES students came up with new initiative which was recognised at the SAA, which comprises a volunteer nature group that takes people on guided biodiversity walks through the Petai Trail at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. The walks are held weekly during the semester and are intended to promote awareness on local environmental, biodiversity and conservation issues amongst the general public and students.
As part of the Love MacRitchie movement, fronted by the BES Drongos, other NUS environmental student clubs like the Toddycats under the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) and the Herpetological Society of Singapore, a group of enthusiasts who study and conserve reptiles and amphibians, the group raised awareness on the impacts of constructing the Cross Island MRT Line through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
The project also generated discussion about the rare and endangered biodiversity and natural habitats in MacRitchie Reservoir and Singapore’s natural heritage. To support the project, BES Drongos launched an educational blog http://besdrongos.wordpress.com/.
In recognition of their outstanding efforts, the BES Drongos was awarded the 11th Student Achievement Awards for Projects (New Initiatives) by NUS.
NUS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (SAA)
The annual Student Achievement Awards (SAA) 2016 ceremony was held on 29 January at the University Cultural Centre. The SAA recognises exceptional students or student groups who have made noteworthy contributions to the university outside of their studies. Various Science students and student groups clinched awards for new initiatives, leadership, competitions and achievements in community service.
Our BES students came up with new initiative which was recognised at the SAA, which comprises a volunteer nature group that takes people on guided biodiversity walks through the Petai Trail at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. The walks are held weekly during the semester and are intended to promote awareness on local environmental, biodiversity and conservation issues amongst the general public and students.
As part of the Love MacRitchie movement, fronted by the BES Drongos, other NUS environmental student clubs like the Toddycats under the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) and the Herpetological Society of Singapore, a group of enthusiasts who study and conserve reptiles and amphibians, the group raised awareness on the impacts of constructing the Cross Island MRT Line through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
The project also generated discussion about the rare and endangered biodiversity and natural habitats in MacRitchie Reservoir and Singapore’s natural heritage. To support the project, BES Drongos launched an educational blog http://besdrongos.wordpress.com/.
In recognition of their outstanding efforts, the BES Drongos was awarded the 11th Student Achievement Awards for Projects (New Initiatives) by NUS.
Future plans
At this current point of time, the BES Drongos are focused on supporting the LOMF movement through our walks on Petai Trail but in future we may look at expanding our walks to other nature areas in Singapore.
View the BES Drongos website
PHOTO CREDITS: Members of BES Drongos